Environmentally protected switch for activating an electronic device when submersed in a conducting fluid
Assignee9609385 Canada Inc.
InventorTimothy D. F. Ford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An environmentally protected switch and water activated device using the switch is disclosed. The switch comprises an elongate housing having an open end and divided into a pair of chambers and into which a probe is inserted. When water infiltrates the housing an electrical circuit is completed between the two probes. There is also disclosed a lens/selector assembly comprising a selector ring encircling a lens and a wave spring which biases the selector ring into one of a number of predetermined positions around the lens. Illustratively, a magnet is placed within the selector ring a position of which can be detected by electronics within the lens.
Claims18
An environmentally protected switch for activating an electronic device in the presence of a conductive fluid, the switch comprising:
- a hollow elongate housing comprising an open end;
- a partition dividing said elongate housing longitudinally into two elongate chambers;
- and
- a flexible insulated two conductor cable, each of said conductors coupleable at a first end to the electronic device and terminated at a second end by a respective one of a pair of probes wherein each of said probes is positioned in a respective one of said elongate chambers and at an end opposite said opening;
- wherein upon submersion of said elongate housing into the conductive fluid, the fluid penetrates each of said chambers, the conductive fluid electrically interconnecting said first probe and said second probe to enable an electrical current to flow between said first probe and said second probe for closing an electrical path and activating the electronic device.
A water activated device comprising:
- a battery;
- a light source comprising at least one LED;
- an environmentally protected switch for activating an electronic device in the presence of a conductive fluid, the switch comprising:
- a hollow elongate housing comprising an open end;
- a partition dividing said elongate housing longitudinally into two elongate chambers;
- and
- a flexible insulated two conductor cable, each of said conductors coupleable at a first end between said battery and said light source and terminated at a second end by a respective one of a pair of probes wherein each of said probes is positioned in a respective one of said elongate chambers and at an end opposite said opening;
- wherein upon submersion of said elongate housing into the water, the water penetrates each of said chambers, the water electrically interconnecting said first probe and said second probe to enable an electrical current to flow between said first probe and said second probe for closing an electrical path between said battery and said light source and illuminating said at least one LED.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.